Lifestyle and nutritional factors have been recognized to influence
breast cancer survival, irrespective of genomic alterations that are the hallmarks of the disease. The
biological and molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of dietary
polyunsaturated fatty acids and
breast cancer response to treatments in clinical and preclinical studies have been reviewed. Among nutrients,
rumenic acid, a naturally occurring CLA isomer and n-3
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) a highly
unsaturated fatty acid, have emerged due to their potential to increase
cancer treatment efficacy without additional side effects. In this review, we analyze the literature evidence that
breast cancer treatment and outcome could be improved through an adjuvant dietary supplementation. Such an original approach would involve two successive phases of
breast cancer treatment: an initial sensitization of
residual tumor cells to
chemotherapy and to
radiation therapy with dietary DHA; then a prevention of metastatic re-growth with a prolonged
rumenic acid supplementation. Safety is not anticipated to be a critical issue, although it has to be assessed in the long term. Dietary supplements, used in combination to anti-
cancer agents, should be provided under medical prescription. Such an original use of
fatty acids in
breast cancer treatment could provide the
lipid field with a new avenue to impact public health.